Mark Hummel Ain’t Easy No More

Mark Hummel
Ain’t Easy No More
Electro-Fi Records

West Coast harmonica wizard Mark Hummel has been increasing his visibility with his annual blues harmonica packages, which have brought together a number of harmonica legends and led to several outstanding CDs documenting the tours. The shows are anchored around Hummel and his fine band of guitarist Charlie Wheal, bassist Steve Wolf and drummer Marty Dodson. Electro-Fi has just issued Hummel’s third album for the label, which will certainly delight his fans and blues harp fans as well.

With a mixture of Hummel’s originals and some choice rearrangements of previously recorded blues, Hummel impresses most as a harp player and his band (augmented by horns on several tracks) is terrific supporting him. Hummel also writes some strong originals, including the topical "Big Easy (Ain’t Easy No More)," based on his reaction to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Hummel is a pleasant vocalist but his delivery does not match the outrage of the lyrics here nor does he have the forcefulness to be completely convincing on Muddy Waters’ "i."

But on other tracks, his delivery works better and there is really little to fault whether listening to his reworking of a Ray Charles jump blues "Get on the Right Track," or a couple of fine Eddie Boyd songs, "You Got to Reap" and "Blues is Here to Stay." Harp features include his originals "Harpoventilating," and "Bird Brain," and Little Sonny’s "The Creeper Returns," all of which showcase his driving, full-bodied playing.

Overall quite a fine album and my quibbles about his vocals on a couple tracks should not be taken too far as his vocals are easy to take. Recommended highly.

I likely received my review copy from a publicist. This review originally appeared in the October 2006 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 287). Here is a video of Mark Hummel and the Blues Survivors.

Tom Principato and Steve Wolf The Long Way Home

Tom Principato and Steve Wolf
The Long Way Home
Powerhouse

Longtime friends and musical associates, guitarist Tom Principato and bassist Steve Wolf, come together for a set of mostly musical duets. Principato is best known as for his blues and roots rock performances with his straight-forward parched singing and nuanced, yet high energy guitar that can run from James Burton styled rockabilly to B.B. King styled blues to electrified gypsy guitar. Wolf has been his long-time bassist but also a familiar anchor to a number of Washington DC based groups. There are others heard on several of the eight songs (six composed by Principato and two by Wolf), but they stay mostly in the background.

The performances have an intimate, conversational feel starting with the opening "I Thought Of You," and then followed with Principato displaying his fluid, jazz chops on "Midnight Groove," with Josh Howell's congas helping propel this sparkling performance with Wolf talking a strong solo as Principato lightly chords behind him. Wolf's "Tres Dias Mas," is a charming Tex-Mex flavored ballad, while Principato's "Very Blue," is a low-key, early in the morning instrumental with him playing in a jazzy vein. There is a Flamenco tinge to the lovely "Mi Solea," while "Back Again & Gone," is a relaxed, country-jazz flavored instrumental with Joe Wells' on drums.

There is plenty of wonderful music on "The Long Way Home," which finds Principato and Wolf playing with restraint, but still showing considerable imagination as well as their considerable musical command.

I received the CD to review from one of the artists. Here is a selection from this recording.

Mark Hummel Finds It Ain't Easy No More

West Coast harmonica wizard Mark Hummel has been increasing his visibility with his annual blues harmonica packages which have brought together a number of harmonica legends and led to several outstanding CDs documenting the tours. The shows are anchored around Hummel and his fine band of guitarist Charlie Wheal, bassist Steve Wolf and drummer Marty Dodson.

Electro-Fi has just issued Hummel’s Third album for the label, Ain’t Easy No More, that will certainly delight his fans and blues harp fans. A mixture of Hummel’s originals and some choice rearrangements of previously recorded blues, Hummel impresses most as a harp player and his band (augmented by horns on several tracks) is terrific supporting him. Hummel also writes some strong originals, including the topical Big Easy (Ain’t Easy No More), based on his reaction to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Hummel is a pleasant vocalist but his delivery does not match the outrage of the lyrics here nor does he have the forcefulness to be completely convincing on Muddy Waters’ She’s Got It. But on other tracks his delivery works better and there is really little to fault whether listening to his reworking of a Ray Charles jump blues Get on the Right Track, or a couple of fine Eddie Boyd songs, You Got to Reap and Blues is Here to Stay. Harp features include his originals Harpoventilating, and Bird Brain, and Little Sonny’s The Creeper Returns, all of which showcase his driving, full-bodied playing.

Overall a strong album and my quibbles about his vocals on a couple tracks should not be taken too far as his vocals are easy to take. Recommended highly.

This review originally appeared in the October 2006 DC Blues Calendar and the October 2006 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 287). I am not sure whether I received this directly from the company or a publicist for the label. Here is some Mark Hummel for your viewing pleasure. I reviewed last month Mark Hummel's recent Little Walter tribute.